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April 13, 2018 -- Image analysis software developer Perspectum Diagnostics is directing attention to new research that found its LiverMultiScan software to be effective in diagnosing and monitoring liver disease.

In a study presented at the European Association for the Study of the Liver's International Liver Congress in Paris, Perspectum researchers used LiverMultiScan to analyze quantitative MRI data taken from the UK Biobank for patients known to have nonalcoholic fatty liver disease or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. The team then calculated the risk of developing more severe nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in 2,895 patients.

The researchers found that the number of patients with undiagnosed nonalcoholic steatohepatitis could be much higher than estimated -- 12% versus 2% to 3% -- which will place a burden on healthcare systems in the future as cirrhosis rates and the need for liver transplants increase, according to the firm. In other data presented at the congress, researchers reported that LiverMultiScan may be more effective than MR elastography in identifying people with early liver disease who are at risk of progressing to advanced disease, Perspectum said.

Additional research from the University of Birmingham and the University of Nottingham found that LiverMultiScan can help clinicians distinguish among a group of autoimmune liver diseases such as autoimmune hepatitis and cholestasis. As a result, the researchers concluded that LiverMultiScan could help clinicians differentiate between parenchymal and biliary disease. They also believe the technology has potential in the future to change how autoimmune liver diseases are evaluated and classified, Perspectum said.

In other Perspectum news, the company said it has received the CE Mark for a new version of the software. The latest release allows the software to be used on a wider range of MRI scanners -- including compatible systems from Philips Healthcare and Siemens Healthineers, according to the vendor.